PIDS spearheads research, policy center in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines – State think thank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and a revitalized development authority are jointly establishing a research and policy center for Mindanao.

PIDS, the research line agency of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), is forming a partnership with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) to promote policy research and knowledge sharing in support of Mindanao’s development needs, facilitate access to policy studies and materials produced by higher education institutions in Mindanao.

The two development-oriented institutions will likewise establish the Mindanao Knowledge Research and Policy Center (MKRPC), a unique knowledge portal.

“This partnership has a lot of potential in creating synergies for the development of Mindanao. Given the Institute’s limited financial, human, and technical resources, we cannot cover the entire Philippines to effectively carry out our mandate. We need to multiply ourselves. We see MinDA as an excellent partner in promoting evidence-based policymaking at the local level and in increasing the relevance of our policy studies,” PIDS president Gilberto Llanto said.

The idea of developing a knowledge portal was inspired by the PIDS’ SocioEconomic Research Portal for the Philippines (SERP-P) project, an online database of socioeconomic studies produced by PIDS and 52 member-institutions comprising the SERP-P network that includes MinDA.

Created by Republic Act 9996 in 2010, Davao-based MinDA is the only Mindanao-wide body mandated to integrate a development framework and provide strategic directions for Mindanao that are consistent with the peace and development initiatives of the national government.

It also aims to promote, coordinate, and facilitate the active and extensive participation of all sectors in Mindanao to promote inclusive development for the region. Prior to its creation, MinDA was known as the Mindanao Economic Development Council of MEDCO, which was established in 1992.